Meirin Wang, aka Zombie-Chang (stylized as ZOMBIE-CHANG), has modeled for the likes of Chanel and collaborated with Diesel, so the sheer quantity of toilet-related chat comes as a shock. In distinction to the female picture that has prevailed in celeb tradition throughout Japan, Meirin is refreshingly unabashed, completely happy to handle vulgarities and speak realistically about numerous topics from psychological well being to salarymen.
Bathroom Paper and Social Activism
Zombie-Chang is a ball of power and we’re not solely speaking about her dwell reveals and music movies. Throughout our video chat, she continually strikes round, discovering the Wi-Fi connection, getting water and adjusting her place. In her first English interview post-Covid, we talk about her music, “Keep House” which was launched on the top of Japan’s first state of emergency.
She tells us that it was in response to her bafflement at folks’s panic shopping for of bathroom paper (the refrain repeats “The place’s my bathroom paper?”). She could not perceive why folks had been so upset about not having bathroom paper when there are such a lot of different choices. “It is not the tip of the world — you would even use the bathe,” she says.
The outline for the music betrays her intention: “It’s a very troublesome state of affairs not solely in Japan but additionally all around the world, however I hope everybody will hearken to this music, keep dwelling, dance and transfer round,” she tells us.
Zombie-Chang wrote and recorded the music in solely sooner or later and director Ryuichi Ono (whom she speaks of extremely), made the video for the music inside three days.
“Once I resolve I need to make one thing, I act shortly,” she says. The music acquired reward, notably for its topical theme. It was in the end included on her 2020 album Take Me Away From Tokyo.
Do not ‘Name Me Perhaps’
Zombie-Chang’s newest album, Stress de Stress which was launched in Might 2022, sees Meirin sitting on a rest room. It additionally contains unique bathroom paper with lyrics from the album, however notably not the “Keep House” music itself. When requested about this, she says that individuals have been telling her they do not want the bathroom paper anymore. “Wow, occasions do change do not they,” she provides laughing.
The picture of her sitting on the bathroom, she says, got here from the concept that her work is mainly her excrement. “And the bathroom is a spot to relaxation when confused.”
Initially, she tells me, the theme for Stress de Stress was karoshi (which means demise from overwork) however because it was deemed “too heavy” she opened the theme as much as stress usually. Most of the songs deal with psychological well being, together with the music “Telephone” which repeats the road “do not name me” and options frantic ringing and answer-phone messages. When requested about this, Meirin conjures up an unlikely affect: Carly Rae Jepsen’s 2012 hit “Name Me Perhaps.”
“Once I heard the music, I assumed that no, I do not need you to name me,” she says. Averse to cellphone calls, she talks about how on this age of social media, cellphone calls can appear relentless.
Many Millennials agree, with some surveys (pre-Covid) exhibiting that 75 % desire texting somewhat than calling. One other seek for “cellphone nervousness” brings up over 1,000,000 outcomes and additional journalistic research spotlight the misconstrued awkwardness that will include receiving or making cellphone calls.
“I actually dislike cellphone calls,” emphasizes Meirin. “That is why I made the music.”
From ‘Swap’ to ‘Poisonous’
Zombie-Chang’s video for “Swap,” directed by Hideo Hotta, sees her seduce a salaryman at a membership, earlier than bringing him again to her place the place she ties him up to be able to play Nintendo Swap.
“I would wished to make a video like that for ages,” she says. “The man is delusional and desires to drag, however really he simply needs to play a sport. The intention is totally different. Although she is performing horny.”
In a world the place sufferer blaming is rife and ladies are shamed for the garments they put on, this video hits the mark, particularly as the primary character is a robust lady in a position to single-handedly tie up the leering salaryman within the video. Zombie-Chang tells us that a part of her wished to embody Britney Spears on “Poisonous,” too, with males dancing round her, somewhat than the opposite means spherical, as she typically witnesses in movies by rappers.
She additionally tells us that she made the music itself on the Nintendo Swap, utilizing synthesizer software program from the console. Whereas Meirin solely wanted software program to make “Swap,” she does spend some huge cash on devices and synthesizers, greater than on garments. That mentioned, she is a giant fan of Spanish designers resembling Paloma Wool and Paula Canovas del Vas, with whom she has a superb relationship.
Although she parked the karoshi theme of the album in favor of stress, there’s nonetheless a definite workplace employee theme that’s displayed. Her video (launched yesterday) for “T’inquiete Pas,” the poppiest music on Stress de Stress with French pop band Agar Agar, options Zombie-Chang as an workplace woman, going by a surreal day by day routine which steadily shifts.
She wakes, will get prepared, observes a stranger making an attempt her backside door (a metaphor for unease over whether or not she locked it), passes an previous woman swinging a blue baseball bat, works, returns, takes some glittery Nitan drugs after which goes to mattress, till the routine turns into distorted. She finishes the drugs and finally ends up locked out of her home, glasses stray. But the unraveling of this day by day schedule closes with a “don’t be concerned” from Zombie-Chang. Regardless of it is considerably dystopian vibe, as is usually the case together with her movies, the long run is vivid.
With the borders lastly reopened and worldwide journey now a risk, Zombie-Chang is happy concerning the prospect of taking part in in France, although it’s but to be confirmed.
“I am at present planning to go round [Europe] at the moment too,” says. If the plan works out, I am certain she will be able to allure the Europeans together with her bathroom chat, as nicely.
Take a look at Zombie-Chang’s video for “T’inquiète Pas” beneath: